England’s first addiction recovery College to open in York

City of York Council and city partners have commissioned a national charity to launch England’s first Recovery College to support people overcoming alcohol and substance misuse.

Through the college, the Wired Into Recovery charity will train people who are successfully recovering from addiction, to support others going through the recovery process. It follows the principle than an individual can heal themselves, heal their family and heal their community.

York’s Recovery College is modelled on a successful community project run in Glasgow. It aims to equip people to work safely within their own community to support people who want to stay off alcohol or drugs and to welcome anyone in supported recovery from an alcohol or drug problem, who’s no longer using any illegal substances and is willing to work as part of a team to challenge stigma, to advise on matters relating to substance misuse, and to support others who wish to live alcohol or drug-free in York.

Free places are on offer to people who can commit to all 12 sessions and who, after the course, are willing to give their time to work on events, campaigns and support others to live active positive lives after problems with alcohol or drugs.

Councillor Dafydd Williams, City of York Council’s Cabinet Member for Crime and Stronger Communities said:

York’s Crime Summit in spring 2013 will be themed around alcohol and problems associated with it, and starting up England’s first Recovery College is further evidence of our commitment to tackling alcohol misuse.

Giving people who have recovered a role in supporting others is an important step forward in breaking the cycle of substance misuse and the higher risks of criminality and social problems associated with it.

In York in October 2011, there were 511 people undergoing supported recovery from alcohol dependency, and in September 2012 there were 490 in treatment. This downward trend is encouraging but there are many local people who the Recovery College can support and create a sustainable and high quality recovery programme.

York’s Recovery College will be led by volunteer graduates of the Glasgow college who have themselves recovered and are now in paid employment.